An Easter story

(There is a story behind this beautiful story. I awoke at Easter 1994 at 6.am with this story crashing around in my head. I prayed that I was given it later when I awoke, and it was. )

A group of parishoners gathered in the church hall to discuss their faith and the church in general. With them were one or two priests, a number of nuns, and, as it was near to his house, their bishop had come along to the meeting as well. It was just after Easter, and the weather was cold and wet - a typical Easter.

All at once Jesus stood in the middle of them. After they had recovered from the shock, they knelt down in silence.

Jesus said to them " Do not be afraid ; do you not remember that I said that when two or three are gathered together, I will be with them ? Here I am. Why are you so sad, so worried, so downcast ? Have you not just celebrated Holy week, when the powers of Hell were defeated, when I banished for ever the barrier to heaven ? Why are you so sad ?"

It took some time before anyone had the courage to reply. Eventually a young priest plucked up courage and said, "Lord, we are so sad when we look at your Church. So many no longer believe, so many no longer come to Mass, there seems to be so much apathy everywhere. We try to do our best, but we do not seem to be getting anywhere." The Bishop then said "Lord, there are few coming forward to train as priests, deacons, or for the reilgious life. So many of our priests are getting old, and we cannot find replacements for them."

A young woman, a teacher at a church primary school added " Lord, our schools no longer find enough Catholic teachers, and it is very difficult to live out our faith in a school setting,when so many homes do not seem to take it seriously".

Jesus looked at them so kindly with His beautiful eyes, then after a pause, He went to the centre of the room and spoke to them.

"My dear friends, so much of what you are concerned about has distressed so many people in My Church ; Popes, bishops and priests over many years and places have all said 'Our Church is dying ', and have prayed for help. All the teaching I gave you in the Gospel, all those teachings which have been passed on, these are the Way to God the Father, but perhaps there is something I can explain to you.

The Good News of Redemption, which you have only just been celebrating, can be summed up in just one word - LOVE. The Love which I have for you and all mankind is so great, but the greatest gift God gave man was the gift of free will. You must be able to choose, in order to gain heaven, but how much love you can perceive if you come closer to the Father !

How can you pass on this Gospel of Love if you do not know this Love yourselves ? My first plea to you is to open yourselves to God. This can only be attained through prayer, communication, walking with your Creator ! Just imagine ! Your Father, who loves you more than you could ever know, wants to walk, talk, and be with you ! Prayer is so much a link in this way, that those who do not pray are not only missing this loving link, they are spiritually starving ! Prayer is also listening ; how much of your world wishes to drown out the quiet messages of peace which you are given ; so often it is a case of planning your time, and forgetting that you are loved.

If you live your life completely at one with the Father, your lives will become changed.

My priests, you who call Me, your High Priest and Victim, to your alters each day, how much of your llives must be in prayer ! How much of My Love must be shown in your lives in all that you do, to the point of following Me in your way of the Cross, if you are called to it. How much of your time spent in the confessional must be with Me, to advise and comfort those who come to you, broken with sin, and are healed by Me through your presence! I remind you of the Cure of Ars, a priest who spent much of his time in the confessional, and the effect this had on the lives of so many sinners !

My Deacons, you who are called to be servants of all in your parishes, remember how much you can give, if only you allow Me to use you through your parishes ! Remember, to, that the first to give his life as a martyr for My sake was a deacon. My sisters, and brother consecrated wholly to me, remember your vows, live lives of prayer and renunciation, take out anything which comes between you and your Father - you will know these things. I do not need to tell you.

Those who are in families, How blessed is your calling, and how much you have to do ! A family can only be truly united if it prays, and I am sad at so many disunited families I see ..... Pray for those who do not want to be with Me, and love them ; do not drive them away, but always wait in prayer for their return.

Those who are in work in the world, be honest, be prayerful, be kind. There are many who will only be able to see Me in you and your lives. Those out of work, lonely, sick, and unsure of their way, pray and wait, God My Father hears all prayers, but especially those in trouble. He is near to all who need Him.

Children, be good, listen and obey your parents. Your prayers are very special. Those who are about to become adult, you are so tempted in so many difficult ways, pray, and live your faith with courage, for you are the future priests and people of My Church.

It is only by prayer and living the Good News that you will renew the Church, encourage others to come and follow Me, encourage the growth of vocations, and bring the Kingdom to all."

"Let us finish with a prayer which you know.

Come Holy Spirit, and renew the hearts of your faithful. Enkindle in them the fire of your Love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And Thou wilt renew the face of the Earth."

As He said this He became so bright that none could look at Him. When the prayer was finished, He had gone, leaving the group in wonder and prayer.

(I thought I had been given so much already, but when I wrote down the story and came to the phrase 'His beautiful eyes' I was allowed to see them.: He was not looking at me - if He had been I would not have been able to look at Him, he was looking over my shoulder. His eyes were so blue, so beautiful, so awe-inspiring. I just thanked God for such an Easter present)